In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Ethanol Disaster

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by WeldrDave, Aug 31, 2019.

Page 1 of 5
  1. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,414
    Likes Received:
    49,394
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    So yesterday evening I went out to the shed to do some cleaning after working on the house all day and when I opened the shed I smelled a strong odor of gas. I pin pointed it to the saw shelf and pulled down saws till I came to the Farm Boss MS-290. When I picked it up, fuel ran all over the place and I realized this isn't good. So, I laid it on it's side to open the fuel cap and gas poured out like crazy. Well, the gromit going into the tank was non-existent at the fuel hose. So, with all going on here I ran it up to my usual place where they service and I get my chains, I got a call today and they said it needs a carb and fuel lines. "According to them" the gas was bad and the ethanol ate up the gaskets and seals in the carb. I am "guilty" of letting that saw sit, it had stable in the gas and I used it about a year ago... :whistle::headbang: And I neglected to dump it and run the tank dry. "My fault"! So, I said put on a new carb and fix it.
    I'm sure this will be a $125.00 mistake. :picard:
     
    WeldrDave, Aug 31, 2019
    #1 Top
    Woodsnwoods, Chaz, savemoney and 13 others like this.
  2. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    17,140
    Likes Received:
    107,480
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    I’ve seen it turn lines to mush. I’ve let some of my saws sit for extended periods and never had it happen though and never run my saws dry. When not in use, they sit in my basement so they’re at a constant cool temp.
     
    The Wood Wolverine, Aug 31, 2019
    #2 Top
    Woodsnwoods, Chaz, savemoney and 10 others like this.
  3. stuckinthemuck

    stuckinthemuck

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    3,162
    Likes Received:
    14,721
    Location:
    Wandering around in the NH woods.
    Neighbor gave me a mid 90’s vintage craftsman saw... said he had no idea how long it was sitting. Drained the fuel and it was black... no fuel line in the tank... only the fuel pickup filter. Filled the tank with gas (without the fuel line and it started right up). Now I just need to find a replacement fuel line... I let my saws sit. My 2 stroke mix has stabilizer in it. Also use stabil. No problems yet, knock wood... glad you didn’t have a fire!!
     
    stuckinthemuck, Aug 31, 2019
    #3 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, Backwoods Savage and 7 others like this.
  4. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    Messages:
    17,140
    Likes Received:
    107,480
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    This was on a Husky 55 that was given to my son. Had a friend run it through his sonic cleaner and put a kit in it. Was surprised it ran fine after. I thought for sure it would need replaced.
    DSC00532.JPG

    The tank was horrible. What worked best was a flush with very hot water and purple power mixed. Did that several times, then flushed a couple times with mix.
     
    The Wood Wolverine, Aug 31, 2019
    #4 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, Backwoods Savage and 9 others like this.
  5. M2theB

    M2theB

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2017
    Messages:
    2,996
    Likes Received:
    19,152
    Location:
    Central Massachusetts
    Yuck!
    Never seen one that bad before. Nice pic though to benchmark “Bad”
     
    M2theB, Aug 31, 2019
    #5 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, Backwoods Savage and 6 others like this.
  6. bear 1998

    bear 1998

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2017
    Messages:
    2,016
    Likes Received:
    16,253
    Location:
    S.C.Pa
    Thats why i use nothin but non ethanol gas......just sayin...
     
    bear 1998, Aug 31, 2019
    #6 Top
    Super44, Chaz, savemoney and 11 others like this.
  7. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2016
    Messages:
    13,462
    Likes Received:
    95,605
    Location:
    Southern Worcester county
    Sorry to hear it, Dave.

    Run them dry, or, empty the fuel.
     
    MikeInMa, Aug 31, 2019
    #7 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, Backwoods Savage and 6 others like this.
  8. unclefess

    unclefess Guest

    i am no mechanic but i have done that repair for more than one friend ,it is easy ,aftermarket parts are around 20.00 ,i know your busy now but you can do it
     
    unclefess, Aug 31, 2019
    #8 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, Backwoods Savage and 10 others like this.
  9. In the Pines

    In the Pines

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2018
    Messages:
    1,404
    Likes Received:
    7,754
    Location:
    Ohio
    what kind of 2 cycle oil do you use and do you use 93 octane?
     
    In the Pines, Aug 31, 2019
    #9 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, amateur cutter and 4 others like this.
  10. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

    Joined:
    May 29, 2015
    Messages:
    22,219
    Likes Received:
    140,962
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    You have methanol in your fuel there? I thought that was basically outlawed...
     
    brenndatomu, Aug 31, 2019
    #10 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, amateur cutter and 8 others like this.
  11. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    27,786
    Likes Received:
    156,156
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    Had to have been a typo. Ethanol can eat up seals and rubber but by the time the farm boss ms290 was out, all the seals and lines were not rubber any more, but rather butyl and nitrile I believe. I've got a ms290 farm boss as well, and it's ever really only had e10 in it.

    I wonder, had your saw ever been worked on? Lines replaced before this? Possibly with non ethanol resistant rubber/ vinyl?
     
    Horkn, Aug 31, 2019
    #11 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, amateur cutter and 7 others like this.
  12. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

    Joined:
    May 29, 2015
    Messages:
    22,219
    Likes Received:
    140,962
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    My experience with cheap fuel lines is they last about a year using e10 ...
     
    brenndatomu, Aug 31, 2019
    #12 Top
    Chaz, savemoney, amateur cutter and 7 others like this.
  13. Mwalsh9152

    Mwalsh9152

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2017
    Messages:
    5,325
    Likes Received:
    38,827
    Location:
    Pelham NH
    once you get up to NH, it looks like the Sunoco in Winchester has non ethanol 93 octane at the pump. Its all I run in my small 2 strokes and my generator. Never had a problem with them. I have to drive 45 mins to get it though.
     
    Mwalsh9152, Sep 1, 2019
    #13 Top
    MFMc., Chaz, T.Jeff Veal and 9 others like this.
  14. Slocum

    Slocum

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2018
    Messages:
    1,363
    Likes Received:
    10,481
    Location:
    North Central Indiana
    Sorry for your bad luck. I go out of my way to buy non ethanol gas. Do a google search for “pure gas“. There a good list of gas stations that comes up for Indiana. Since I switched I’ve had practically no fuel problems.
     
    Slocum, Sep 1, 2019
    #14 Top
    Chaz, T.Jeff Veal, RabbleRouser and 7 others like this.
  15. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,414
    Likes Received:
    49,394
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    My shed is "hot" all summer long, it does have a vent but what ever the outside air temp is, that's what it is inside. Most of the summer it's been in the 90's
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 1, 2019
    #15 Top
    Chaz, T.Jeff Veal, savemoney and 7 others like this.
  16. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,414
    Likes Received:
    49,394
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    I have no choice! I'm in hell here! It's all you can get...
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 1, 2019
    #16 Top
    MFMc., Chaz, T.Jeff Veal and 11 others like this.
  17. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,414
    Likes Received:
    49,394
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    I "usually do". I don't know why I forgot this one and I thought back when the last time I used it. I should have checked it before coming up to NH.
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 1, 2019
    #17 Top
    Chaz, T.Jeff Veal, savemoney and 9 others like this.
  18. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,414
    Likes Received:
    49,394
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    Yes, Sorry, Ethanol! :emb: I fixed it. I had a few :drunk: in me when I wrote it... I was a bit P!$$ed off at myself...
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 1, 2019
    #18 Top
    Chaz, T.Jeff Veal, savemoney and 11 others like this.
  19. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,414
    Likes Received:
    49,394
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    My mistake... I fixed the heading.
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 1, 2019
    #19 Top
    Chaz, T.Jeff Veal, savemoney and 8 others like this.
  20. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,414
    Likes Received:
    49,394
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    I've been using Lucas in everything I own and never had an issue with anything.
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 1, 2019
    #20 Top
    Chaz, T.Jeff Veal, savemoney and 8 others like this.
Page 1 of 5